Immigration fears are being stoked by politicians, says bishop

A leading Anglican cleric has launched a powerful attack on the way politicians are exaggerating the negative impact of immigration, which he says is “wholly disproportionate” to the real threat.

The Bishop of Dudley, David Walker, told the Observer: “Public fears around immigration are like fears around crime. They bear little relationship to the actual reality.”

His remarks come as the prime minister, David Cameron, prepares to outline tough new measures to ensure that immigrants will have to have been settled in the UK for between two and five years before they can even get on the waiting list for social housing.